Massive 27-Pound Tumor Removed from Woman in 8-Hour Surgery

On Tuesday, a Georgia woman underwent surgery to have a massive 27-pound tumor removed from her stomach, according to The Atlanta Journal-Constitution.

Dora Lewis began to experience shortness of breath and stomach pains when she made the 911 call that sent her to the hospital for what would be an 8 plus hour surgery. Prior to that, she had experienced her stomach growing in leaps and bounds.

At first, Lewis said she shrugged it off as a sign of weight gain. As she was recently without health insurance and had lost her husband, finding a doctor to diagnose any health problems had also become quite difficult.

Lewis was taken to Emory University Hospital Midtown in Atlanta, where doctors discovered the beach-ball sized tumor that would require multi-hour surgery, according to Dr. Alan Gordon of the hospital. Shortly following the diagnosis, Lewis agreed to the operation, according to Fox News.

During the surgery, which lasted about 8.5 hours, health officials found 27 to 28 pounds of fluid inside of the ruptured tumor, which had attached itself to internal organs.

The surgery progressed well and Lewis should return home in the next week, according to USA Today. However, had the tumor not been removed, it may have grown and accelerated health issues related to Lewis' breathing and digestive health, along with other medical issues.

"It's just so overwhelming, and I'm thankful, and I'm happy she was able to make it," said Lewis' daughter Sarina, according to WSB-TV.

"(We're) very thankful and relieved. It's just so overwhelming, and I'm thankful and I'm happy she was able to make it," she added, via The Atlanta Journal-Constitution.